The Divine Names. Pt. 4 Jehovah Rapha

Good morning to you, Dear Readers!

I continue to be happily amazed at the places all around the world where this Bible study blog is being viewed. In addition to the USA, there are readers of this blog in at least 12 other nations around the world!  I am grateful for this and pray that the Bible studies are a true blessing to all who read it. 

I believe that we all can rejoice because the truth of God's word is going out to places that most of us will probably never be able to visit. I am praying for the Spirit of God to take the Word of God and do a mighty work in every person's heart who reads this blog. 

I am happy to report that my physical therapy is really helping me recover from knee surgery. I am regaining my range of motion and flexibility and I am cleared to drive again. The pains are subsiding and all of this makes me grateful for your prayers and for the work of our loving Great Physician, Jesus Christ. 

Let's look once more at the text where the name Jehovah Rapha is found.

Exo 15:22-27  So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. 


Every born again believer will experience some "marah's" in this life.

First, we are going to experience our share of “Marahs.” We live in a world that is cursed because of sin. In addition, we have bodies that are susceptible to disease because of the effects of sin. Furthermore, we live in a culture filled with people who are becoming increasingly wicked in their actions. 

Each of us carries around the "old man" that defies God and follows the lust of our flesh and we will fail at times. It is certain that we will encounter times of trouble, times of sorrow and, yes, times of bitterness. 

This is when we must live by faith and be like Job. His life is one of great contrasts. He was wise, well respected, extremely wealthy and blessed with 10 children. Job knew the Lord and he prayed and offered sacrifices for each of his children every day. 

Job endured a faith test from God. 

Job had no idea that God was going to test him by allowing Satan to bring affliction into his life. All he knew is that he lost everything important to him including his wealth, health and family. If you are enduring times of trouble or distress I urge you to read the book of Job.

Job's faith remained steadfast even though he was severely afflicted.  He knew that God had a purpose and that he would stand before his Redeemer one day. 

We can agree that Job went through an unbelievably difficult "marah." It was the most bitter time for this man and he was perplexed as the text below shows.  

Job declared that God knew the path that he was on and that when all the trial was over Job was confident in this one thing. "I shall come forth as gold." The word "tried" is a word that refers to smelting metals to purge out impurities and get rid of dross. The metal that survives is pure and valuable. 

Job 23:9-12 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Jehovah will eventually heal the bitter waters of our "marah."

The second lesson is that Jehovah Rapha will heal us from our bitter “marahs”. It does not mean that He takes away the trouble, trial or that which is causing the bitter experience. What it does mean is that Jehovah Rapha will be doing His healing work in our hearts. 

This is why we experience a “marah” in our lives. Jehovah Rapha is testing us and proving us so that as we go through the time of trouble and emerge from it, we learn to depend upon Him more than we did before. He knows the work that He needs to do in our hearts and He uses a “marah” to purge out dross and prepare us for serving Him. 

Look at what the LORD did for Job when his testing was over. God poured out rich blessings upon Job and Job had the privilege of interceding for his friends so that the Lord would forgive their sins. Notice, that blessing was based upon Job's obedience when he was told to pray for his friends.  

Job 42:10-17  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days. 

The bitter waters of a marah are often followed by sweet relief from the LORD.

The third lesson we learn from the name Jehovah Rapha is that the often a “marah” in our lives will be followed by relief and the sweetness of an “Elam.” Elam was an oasis in the desert. There were many beautiful palm trees that provided plentiful fruit and shade. Elam had twelve wells of water that were cold, pure and refreshing. It offered a cool retreat in the face of relentless desert heat. 

Jehovah Rapha knows what is best for us. He will comfort us as we go through our "marahs" and send grace and strength to us as we need it. He will direct us to an “Elam” for refreshing and reviving when the trial of a “marah” is over. 

Jehovah Rapha came to earth to heal us

from the disease of sin. 

We see this in Psalm 103. The Psalmist references Jehovah and then tells us what Jehovah does. He “healeth all thy diseases.” The word “raphe” is translated ‘healeth” in this verse, so we have Jehovah and raphe in the same paragraph of text. However, the most important disease that Jehovah heals us from is the disease of sin.

Psalm 103:2-3 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;"   

The cure or antidote for the disease of sin is found only in the work and person of Jesus Christ. He is Jehovah Rapha in the flesh. Notice that Isaiah 53 speaks of Christ 800 years before He was born. The prophet sees Jehovah the Messiah as bruised, wounded and crucified for our sins and our transgressions. 

Through His death on the cross, Jesus “healed” us from our sins. The word “rapha” is the word translated “healed” in this text.

Isaiah 53:3 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."     

Let us think together about the name “Jesus.” You may recall that this name is taken from two Hebrew words that mean “Jehovah saves.” This is the meaning of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus declared that He was “I am” seven times in the gospel of John, making a clear statement that He was Jehovah in the flesh. We also know that Jesus healed vast numbers of people while He ministered on the earth. 

Notice Matthew’s record of Jesus healing. Jesus is Jehovah Rapha in the flesh. He healed all manner of disease and sickness in Galilee. They brought all the sick people suffering from various diseases and torments. Torments refers to horrible pain due to a disease. The word lunatic refers to a madness believed to be caused by a full moon or mental illness. Palsy refers to a disabled or weak limb of the body. 

Some of the people were demon possessed. Matthew records a profoundly simple statement declaring the fate of all these people. “He healed them.” The innumerable host of people healed by Jesus Christ is ample proof that Jesus is Jehovah Rapha in the flesh. 

Matthew 4:23-24 "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."   

Jehovah Rapha is the God who heals the broken hearted.

There are many broken-hearted people throughout the world today. Sin has consequences and innocent people become casualties of a sinner’s actions. Sin is rebellion against God. He is the absolute moral authority and He has told us things not to do as well as things that we should do. God has done this so that we can avoid the pain, sorrow, suffering and consequences of ignoring His commands.

Many people have broken hearts but Jehovah Rapha is willing to mend them. The word translated “healeth” is “rapha” and the name Jehovah is used twice in the first three verses. The context of the Psalm indicates that Jehovah Rapha wants to make the broken hearts whole again and He wants to bind up the unseen wounds in each brokenhearted person.

Psalm 147:1-3 " Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."    

The prophet Isaiah was speaking for God to a rebellious people. His sermons had much impending as well as future judgment. Yet, sown into the message of the coming day of the LORD are numerous pearls that proclaim the glorious coming of God’s Messiah and King. He makes the connection between Jehovah Rapa and His grace in biding up the brokenhearted.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Jesus read the same passage quoted above and applied this prophecy to Himself. Remember that Jesus is Jehovah in the flesh and Jehovah Rapha is the God that heals. Jesus said He was sent to heal the brokenhearted and that is the great work that He accomplished for us.

We need a new heart & spirit from Jehovah.

Read this wonderful text below. God has promised to did this for repentant sinners. He will give us a new Spirit and a new heart and in the process heal our broken hearts. Jehovah will take away the deceitful wicked and sinful heart that we are all born with and replace it with one that is attuned to heaven. 

If you are not born again please do not put this off any longer. Not one person is guaranteed one more day of life and breath. Today is your opportunity to respond to the inspired word of God that you have read in this blog. Jesus Christ is all that he claimed to be and He accomplished redemption for Jew and Gentile alike. What an amazing salvation God has brought to us. 

Ezekiel 36:22-28  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 

Points to Ponder....

• When we experience a "marah" we must turn to the LORD with all our heart.

• Jehovah will eventually take the marah away from us and He may grant a sweet period of relief, like Elam.

• Jehovah Rapha came to this earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

• Although Christ healed multitudes of people His primary goal was to bring salvation to sin sick hearts.

You can see that the name Jehovah Rapha is a most beautiful name. It shows that God has a plan for our lives and sometimes that will include enduring a "marah." We also learned that Jehovah Rapha will lead us through the bitter testing and grant some relief when it is over. 

Christ came to this earth to obliterate the most deadly disease known to man--Sin! He died so that we can live. He lives so that we can have eternal life with Him in glory. 

Sin has been cured by the cross and the devil has been defeated. However, you must choose to accept the salvation God has provided through Jesus Christ. In the words of Jesus, "Ye must be born again." This is the new heart work that Jehovah promised to do in Ezekiel 36.

Bob